Textile apparatus



April 1946 E. R. ,STAHL ETAL' 2,398,473

' TEXTILE APPARATUS Filled not, ze, 1945 s sheewsheet 1 ATTOR NEY S.

April 16, E, R, STAHL ET AL 2,398,473

' TEXTILE APPARATUS Filed oct. 26, `1945 s sheetsheet 2 v INVENTORS lFRANK w. scHuL'rE.

ELMER R. STAHL.

BY WILLIAM J. ELWN;

ATTORNEYS.

A April 16, 1946. E. R. STAHL Ef AL TEXTILE APPARATUS F'led Oct. 26, 1945 "5*She-tS-Sheet 5 INVENToRs.

im *Tn N EVS Patented Apr. 16,

TEXTILE APPARATUS Elmer R. Stahl, Meyersdale, Pa., and Frank W. Schulte, Cumberland, .and William J. Elvin,

Frostburg, Md., assgnors'to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application october 26, 1943, serial No. 501,678 13 claims. (o1. ca -1) This invention relates to multi-end yarn stretching devices, and relates more particularly to attachments for multi-end yarn stretching devices for the purpose of severing the ends of threads which may break during the stretching operation, thereby preventing the broken ends of threads from becoming entangled with the ,threads which remain unbroken and forming double end threads, and also preventing the broken ends of threads from forming yarn laps about rolls over which the threads pass.

' An object of this inventionis the'provision of an attachment for multi-end thread stretching devices for automatically severing a broken end of thread when an end break occurs so as to prevent the entanglement of the broken end with the unbroken ends, to prevent the formation of laps about the rolls around which the threads are wound, and to minimize the amount of thread wasted when an end break occurs during multiend stretching operations, i

Other objects of this invention will appear from the foliowingdetailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiments of our invention are shown,

I Figure 'l is a perspective view,4 partly in section, showing one of our novel thread severing mechanisms in relation tothe steam chamber, only one thread being shown .in the interest of clarity,

Figure 2 is a detail view showing a section of the drop wire structure,

Figure 3 is an electric circuit or wiring diagram wire embodiment of our invention showing a running thread, feed rollers and a drop wire cooperating with the thread, A

Figure-9 is a perspective view of another severing means actuated by the drop wire arrangement shown in Figure 8, and- Figure 10 is the wiring or circuit diagram of the embodiment of our invention shown in Figures 8and9.

supporting channel member 28. Rod 23 is locked inposition by means of a trigger 29 hooked over Figure 8 is a detail view of a part of yet another Like reference numeralsr indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, a thread Il. coming froma bobbin or other suitable source of supply and moving inthe direction shown, is passed through a steam chamber I2 where it is softened and is withdrawn from the chamber under suitable tension so that it is stretched. The thread.

Il, which is drawn from chamber I2 by suitable take-up means (not shown), passes over a guide bar I3 and then through the eye of a drop wire I4. Drop wire Ill is mountedon and is freely rotatable about a conductive shaft I5 which is set in an insulated support I6 fixed to an angleiron` bracket Il. Positioned beneath drop wire I4 is a non-conducting plate I8, attached to bracket Il by a support I9, in which are set contact points 20 formed of a suitable conducting material. A lead. wire 2i is connected to shaft I5 and each contact point 20 has a lead wire 22 connected thereto. The lead wires are connected to a suitable source of electrical energy and form part of a closed circuit when a drop wire It falls and rests 20 thus closing the electrical circuit to bring the y thread severing attachment into operation.

The thread severing device, which is brought into operation by the fall of drop wire I4 on contact point .20, comprises a rod 23 provided at its v upper endwith an edged cutting head 24 and at an intermediate point with an adjustable collar 25 which may be positioned as desired by means of a set screw 28. Rod 23 is spring-loaded as by means of a spring 21, one end ofwhich bears against collar 25 while the other bears against a collar 25. Trigger 29 is pivoted on a shaft 30 iournaled in bearing brackets 3| and is held in locking Vposition against collar 25 by means of a spring 32 attached to trigger 29 at one end'and. suitably anchored in any convenient manner (not4 shown) at the other. When held in locked position by trigger 29 rod 23. provided at its lower extremity with a tip 33 of suitable insulating material, exerts a downward thrust against a switch, generally indicated by reference numeral 34 and forming part of the circuit containing the drop A wire. thus maintaining the" switch in a., closed position by holdings contact comprising s. ilat spring 35 against a contact point 36. Contact Point 36 is provided with a lead wire 2|, while fiat spring 35, which is held in place on a' support 36 as by screws 39, is provided lwith a lead wire 40.

Means are provided to release rod 23 and collar 25 from the restraining action of trigger 29 when an end break occurs and the broken thread |I grmits drop wire I4 to fall on to contact point generally indicated by reference numeral 4|, having a plurality o windings 42 about a core 43 and forming part of the circuit shown in Figure 3 through lead wires 40 and 45. Electromagnet 4| -is supported by a bracket 46 and is held in position by any suitable means as by arms 41 and 4,8 xed to bracket 46 by screws 49.

When an end break occurs, drop wire I4 falls and strikes contact point 20 closing the circuit, thus energizing electromagnet 4|; The electromagnetic eld created by the current passing through the windings exerts a strong magnetic force on trigger 29, causing it to be drawn backward so that it releases collar 25 and allows rod 23 to be forced upward by the action of spring 21. The cutting head 24 at the top of rod 23 moving upward through a guide member 50 strikes block set in e. bar 52 severing thread I I and leaving a short end which may be removed without any diiculty. The immediateseverance of the broken thread at a point where the thread undergoing processing enters the system prevents the formation of roller laps and the tangling of the broken threads with those which are unbroken and are undergoing stretching.

The upward movement of rod 23 also opens switch 34 simultaneously with the cutting action which opens the circuit and halts the flow of current to the electromagnet 4I holding trigger 29 in a retracted position. Accordingly, trigger 29 and the cutting means may be reset merely by forcing rod 23 down suiliciently to permit trigger 29 to lock over collar 25. The cutting means may, of

, course, be reset only after the drop wire I4 is lifted off contact 20 and is placed in position over a running thread Il after the latter has been rethreaded through the apparatus.

Referring now to Figures 5 to '7 wherein another embodiment of our invention is shown, and more particularly to Figure 6, thread coming from a suitable source of supply (not shown) is passed in the direction-indicated through pigtail guides 53 and 54 set in bars 55 and 56 respectively.. and through a cutting device generally indicated by reference numeral 51. Cutting device 51 comprises a xed blade 58 and a movable blade 59 pivotally mounted at 60. Fixed blade 58 is supported inl any suitable manner (not shown). Pivotally attached vto movable blade 59 is a rod 6| 4which extends downwardly through a guide bar 62 and is attached at its other end to the core 63 of a solenoid 64. Rod 6| carries a disc 65 xed thereto and is spring-loaded as by a' spring 66 which bears on disc 65 at one end and on bar 62 at the other. The action of spring 66 serves to force the rod 6I upwardly' to maintain the cutting device 51 in an open position. Solenoid 64 is provided with lead wires 61 and 68 connected to a suitable power supply. From pig- Such means comprises an electromagnet,

being opened when drop wire 10 is in a horizontal position on running thread-II and is closed when drop wire 10 is in a downward position. Switch 12 is provided with lead wires 81 and '13, the

'latter being connected to the power supply.

Roller 1I may be supported in any suitable manner as by a post 14, while pigtail guide 69 is supported by meansof a bar 15 which also carries switch 12.

When an-end break occurs and thread |I is severed at a point adjacent to pigtail guide 69, drop wire 10 falls and closes switch 12. This action permits current to flow through solenoid 64 thus drawing core '63 in a, downward direction. Rod 6|, which is connected to core 63, is thus drawn downwardly and causes blade 59 to pivot at 50 and to sever thread I| between the blades 58 and 59 of the cutting device 51. This action prevents thread II/ from forming roller laps and from becoming entangled with the unbroken threads.

In the modification shown in Figures 8 to 10 of the drawings, thread II, moving in the direction shown, is passed through pigtail guides 16. 11 and 18, and may then be passed to a stretching chamber, or the like, similar to that shown in Figure 1. Guide 18 is set in a bar 19 and guide 18 is set in a bar 80. It is to be understood, of course, that bars 19 and 80 may carry a plurality of similar guides when a large number of ends of thread are being treated. Set beneath thread and at 'right angles thereto, is a rod 8| of a metal of such electrical resistance that a suitable current owing therethrough causes it to become hot enough to burn through a thread coming in contact therewith. Lead wires 82 and 83 are provided at each end oi. the rod for introducing the current while insulators 84 enable lthe rod to be set in any desired position as by suitable supports (not shown). Guide 11 is set in aibar 85 which passes through a guide bar 81 and is slotted at 88 so that it rests-on a trigger 89. Trigger 89 is `journaled in any suitable bearings by means of pins 90 set therein. Adjacent to trigger 89 is an electromagnet 9| connected to a suitable source of current through a lead wire 92 and provided with switch, indicated by reference numeral 93, comprising a key 94 and a contact 95, key 94 pivoting at 96. A wire 91 leading to the remaining portions, of the circuit is attached to key 94 at the pivot 96.

Thread Il, as shown in Figure 8, coming, forV example, from a stretching operation eiected at av point beyond pigtail guide 18, passes over a roll '98, under a drop wire 99 and then through a pigtail guide |00 to a driven feed roll |0| leading to a take-up bobbin (not shown). Drop wire 99 is pivotally niounted'onl a rod |02 set in brackets |03 xed to an insulated base |04 being maintained in upright position by the supporting action of running thread II upon which it rests. A lead wire |05 connected to a suitable source of current passes through lbase |04 and is attached to rod .|02 making drop wire 99 part of an electrical circuit as shown in Figure 10. The remainder of the circuit is formed by a contact |06 set beneath drop wire 99 and attached tail guide 54 the thread II may be directed to any textile apparatus such vas a stretching cham-u ber or any other treating means and. after emergwire` 92 which leads to the electromagnet 9|. When an end break occurs, drop wire 99 falls and strikes contact |06 closing the circuit and energizing electromagnet 9|. The current nowing therefrom, thread II may belpassed through a pigtail guide 69, under a drop wire 10 and then over a feed roller 1|. Drop wire 10 comprises the make and break part of a switch 12, the switch ing through electromagnet 9| causes the latter to act on trigger 89 drawing it from slot 818. This action releases rod and permits it to drop thus carrying thread II down and bringing it in contact with heated rod 8| which chars and severs the thread. Simultaneously with this action,` the base of rod 85 strikes key 9E and opens the circuit cutting oi the current to the electromagnet 9i and destroying the 4electromagnetic force Vexerted by magnet 9i on trigger 89 and permitting the mechanism to be reset if desired.

The severance of the thread prevents the broken end from forming yarn laps or becoming entangled with the unbroken threads.

Not only may the novel attachments of our invention bel employed in connection with the yarn or thread stretching operations but they may also be employed in connection With winding, sizing or other thread processing operations to prevent broken ends of thread from becoming entangled with unbroken threads or from forming undesirable yarn laps. Y

thread so as to cause movement of said bar and the thread severing means to operate.

- y5. In apparatus for treating running thread, thread cutting means including a vertically mov- Vable member, mechanical means for positively maintaining said cutting means inactive and means for actuating said thread cutting means upon .breakage of the thread, said actuating means comprising an electric circuit including a sourcel of power, and a drop wire arrangement operable by the thread for maintaining said elec-` tric `circuit open and for closing said electric circuit upon breakage of the thread so as'to cause said mechanical means to permit movement of said member to operate said cutting means.

6. In apparatus for treating runningv thread,

`thread cutting means includinga vertically movable member, mechanical means for positively maintaining said cutting means inactive `and means for actuating said thread cutting Ameans upon breakage of the thread, said actuating means comprising an electric circuit including l. In apparatus for treating running thread,

lmaintaining the severing means inactive to permit movement of said member to operate said severing means. r n

2. In apparatus for treating running thread, thread severing means including a cutter head, striking block and a vertically movable member for operating said cutter head, mechanical means for positively maintaining said severing means inactive and means for actuating said thread severing means upon breakage of the thread, said actuating means comprising an electric circuit including a source of power, and means operable by the thread for maintaining said electric circuit open and for closing said electric circuit upon breakage of the thread so as to lcause said mechanical means to permit movement of said member to operate said severing means.

3. In apparatus for treating running thread; thread severing means including cooperating cutting blades and a vertically movable' member for operating at least one of said cutting blades, and means foractuating said thread severing means upon breakage of the thread, said actuating means comprising an electric circuit including a source of power, and means operable by the thread for maintaining said electric circuit'open and for closing said electric circuit upon breakage of the thread sov as to cause s aid member to operate and eiect a relative movement of said cutting blades to sever the thread.

a source of power, an electromagnet, and means operable by the thread for maintaining said electric circuit open and for closing said electric circuit and energizing said electromagnet so as to `cause said .mechanical means to permit movement of said member to operate said cutting means. y l' 7. In apparatus for treating running thread, thread severing means comprising a' vertically movable mem-ber, a cutter head mounted on said member and striking block, mechanical means for holding said member and cutter head in inoperative position, means for releasing said member and cutter head to cut the thread upon breakage thereof, said releasing means comprising an electric circuit including a source of power, an electromagnet, and means operable by the thread for maintaining said electric circuit open, for closing said electric circuit and energizing said electromagnet so as to cause said member to .be released causing said cutter head to come into contact "with said striking block toI sever the thread therebetween.

8. In apparatus for treating running thread, thread severing means comprising a vertically movable member, a cutter head mounted on said member and striking block, mechanical means for holding said member and cutter head in inoperative position, means for releasing said member and cutter head to cut the thread upon breakage thereof, said releasing means comprising an electric circuit including a source of power, an electromagnet, means operable by the thread for maintaining said` electric circuit open, for closing said electric circuit and energizing said electromagnet so as to cause said member` to be released causing said cutter head to come into contact with said striking block to sever the thread therebetween, and means for de-enengizing said. electromagnet upon completion of the thread severing operation..

4. In apparatus for treating running thread,

power, and means operable'by the thread for maintaining said electric circuit open and for' closing said electric circuit upon breakage of the 9. Inl apparatus iortreating running thread.

thread severing means comprising a vertically v movable member, a cutter head mounted on said member and striking block, mechanical means for holding said member and cutter head in inoperative position. means for releasing 'said member and cutter head to cut the thread upon breakage thereof, said releasing meanscomprising an electric circuit including a sourceof power, an electromagnet, a drop wirearran'gement operable by the thread for maintaining said electric circuit open. for closing said electric circuit and energiain'a said eiechomaanet so as to cause said member to be released causing said cutter head to come into contact with said striking block to sever the thread therebetween, and means for` rie-energizing said electromagnet upon completion of the thread severing operation.

l0. En apparatus for treating running thread, thread severing means comprising cooperating cutting blades, means ior holding said cutting blades in open -position, a vertical rod for movine` one o said cutting` blades relative to the other of said cutting blades to cut the thread upon breakage thereof, said blade moving means comprising an electric circuit including a source ci power, an eiectrornaanet, and means operable by the thread for maintaining said electric circuit open, for closing said electric circuit and energiaing said electromasnet so as to. cause one of saidvcutting biades to be moved relative to the escasa/e as to cause one of said cutting blades to be moved relative to the other of said cutting blades to sever the thread therebetween.

l2. In. apparatus for treating running thread, thread severing means comprising a heated element, means including a vertical rod for causing the thread to come into contact with said heated cuttingr element upon breakage of said thread, said means comprising an electric circuit including a source of power, an electromagnet, means operable by the thread for maintaining said electric circuit open, for closing said electric circuit and energizing said electromagnet so as to operate said rod to cause said thread to come into contact with said heated element to sever the thread. i

13. In apparatus for treating running thread, thread severing means comprising a heated element, means including e. vertical rod for causing the thread to come into contact with said heated l cutting element upon breakage of said thread, said means comprising an electric circuit including a Source of power, an electromagnet, a drop wire arrangement operable by the thread for maintaining said electric circuit open, for closing said electric circuit andv energizing said electromagnet so as to operate said rod to cause said thread to come into contact with said heated element to sever the thread.

ELDER R. STAHL. FRANK W. SCHULTE. WElJAli/i J. ELVIN. 

